Bruce
Cockburn
Bone
on Bone
True
North Records
“No one would have believed..” (Wells – War of the Worlds)
that a songwriter could encounter writer’s block after thirty-plus albums.
There was reason enough. Canadian singer
songwriter and acoustic guitarist Bruce Cockburn had spent three years
expending his energies on his 2014 memoir Rumours
of Glory. It was the power of poetry of the Canadian Al Purdy ( I will
check out) that was the inspiration to get things moving again. Bone on
Bone not only includes the six minute tribute 3 Al Purdys, but also ten
other compositions that are the antithesis of our social media obsessed
culture. My notes read substance, substance, substance! Incorporating folk and jazz, my favourite
track was the beautiful acoustics of track three Forty Years In The Wilderness
about pushing yourself, moving forward and following your calling which we can
all easily relate to. I enjoyed the
sublime arrangements more than the vocals which felt dense, almost claustrophobic
at times, no more than album opener,
States I’m in, about illusion and self-delusion. Stab at Matter mercifully is more upbeat but
the overall tone of the recording hints at an unease about something with an
uncertain outcome and made it a less likeable album for me. I preferred the livelier tenth track Jesus
Train that not only was more joyous but I thought showcased his vocal range
more strongly. I also liked the seven
minute JJ Cale-like shuffle of False River about an environmental warning about
a trans-mountain pipeline. This is a praiseworthy but unsettling album that
rises above the ordinary throughout.
NE
